3-Aryl-3-hydroxy-2-methylenepropionic acid esters as fungicides

ABSTRACT

Compounds of formula I are described: 
                         
along with compositions thereof, methods of use thereof (particularly as fungicides), and methods of making the same.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/573,983, filed May 24, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns methylenepropionic acid esters, compositions thereof, and methods of use thereof for the control of microbial pests, particularly fungal pests, on plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The incidence of serious fungal infections, either systemic or topical, continues to increase for plants, animals, and humans. Many fungi are common in the environment and not harmful to plants or mammals. However, some fungi can produce disease in plants, humans and/or animals.

Fungicides are compounds, of natural or synthetic origin, which act to protect plants against damage caused by fungi, including oomycetes. Current methods of agriculture rely heavily on the use of fungicides. In fact, some crops cannot be grown usefully without the use of fungicides. Using fungicides allows a grower to increase the yield of the crop and consequently, increase the value of the crop. Numerous fungicidal agents have been developed. However, the treatment of fungal infestations and infections continues to be a major problem. Furthermore, fungicide and antifungal drug resistance has become a serious problem, rendering these agents ineffective for some agricultural and therapeutic uses. As such, a need exists for the development of new fungicidal and antifungal compounds (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,827; See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,330 to Walter, which describes pyrimidin-4-enamine as fungicides).

The antimalarial activity of 3-aryl-3-hydroxy-2-methylenepropionic acids has been reported (M. K. Kundu et al. 1999, Bioorganic and Medicinal Letters 9, 731-6), but the reported esters are lower alkyl (e.g., methyl) only.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of fungicidal compositions and methods. More particularly, the present invention concerns novel fungicidal methylenepriopionic acid esters and methods involving application and use of fungicidally effective amounts of such compounds. The present invention also concerns methods useful in the preparation of such methylenepriopionic acid esters.

The compounds and compositions of the present invention are useful as crop protection agents to combat or prevent fungal infestations, or to control other pests such as weeds, insects, or acarids that are harmful to crops.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is a compound of formula I:

wherein:

R is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, haloalkyl, and aryl;

Ar is aryl, preferably not phenyl, and preferably heteroaryl;

Ar₁ is a 5 or 6-membered aromatic or heteroaromatic ring;

X₁, X₂, and X₃ taken individually from H, halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, cyano, nitro; aryl or aryloxy or aryloxyalkyl, optionally substituted with halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro;

or X₁ and X₂ or X₂ and X₃ as an adjacent pair together form the group —Y-W-Z-, where: Y and Z are independently oxygen, sulphur, sulphonyl, carbonyl, or CR₁R₂; W is —(CR₃R₄)_(p)—(CR₅R₆)_(q)— or sulfonyl; R₁ and R₂ are independently hydrogen, halogen, or alkyl; R₃ and R₄ are independently hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl or together form an oxo group; R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl; p is 1 or 2; and q is 0 or 1;

R′ is C1-C4 alkylene optionally substituted with alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, or cyano;

n is 0 or 1;

or a salt thereof such as an agriculturally or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A second aspect of the present invention is a composition for controlling and preventing plant pathogenic microorganisms comprising, in combination, an active compound as described herein together with a suitable carrier.

A third aspect of the present invention is a method of controlling or preventing infestation of cultivated plants by pathogenic microorganisms, comprising applying an active compound as described herein to said plants, parts thereof or the locus thereof in an amount effective to control said microorganisms.

A further aspect of the present invention is a method of controlling or preventing infestation of technical materials by pathogenic microorganisms, comprising applying an active compound as described herein to said technical materials, parts thereof or the locus thereof in an amount effective to control said microorganisms.

A further aspect of the present invention is a method of treating a fungal infection in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an active compound as described herein to said subject in an amount effective to treat said fungal infection.

A still further aspect of the present invention is the use of an active compound as described herein for the preparation of a composition (e.g., an agricultural formulation, a pharmaceutical formulation) for carrying out a method as described herein (e.g., an agricultural treatment as described herein, the treatment of technical materials as described herein, the treatment of a fungal infection in a subject as described herein).

The foregoing and other objects and aspects of the present invention are explained in greater detail below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

“Alkyl” as used herein refers to a saturated hydrocarbon radical which may be straight-chain or branched-chain (for example, ethyl, isopropyl, t-amyl, or 2,5-dimethylhexyl) or cyclic (for example cyclobutyl, cyclopropyl or cyclopentyl) and contains from 1 to 24 carbon atoms. This definition applies both when the term is used alone and when it is used as part of a compound term, such as “haloalkyl” and similar terms. In some embodiments, preferred alkyl groups are those containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which are also referred to as “lower alkyl.” In some embodiments preferred alkyl groups are those containing 5 or 6 to 24 carbon atoms, which may also be referred to as “higher alkyl”.

“Alkenyl,” as used herein, refers to a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon containing from 2 to 24 carbons and containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond formed by the removal of two hydrogens. Representative examples of “alkenyl” include, but are not limited to, ethenyl, 2-propenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl, 3-butenyl, 4-pentenyl, 5-hexenyl, 2-heptenyl, 2-methyl-1-heptenyl, 3-decenyl and the like. “Lower alkenyl” as used herein, is a subset of alkenyl and refers to a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and “higher alkenyl” has the corresponding meaning as described above in connection with “higher alkyl”.

“Alkynyl,” as used herein, refers to a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group containing from 2 to 24 carbon atoms and containing at least one carbon-carbon triple bond. Representative examples of alkynyl include, but are not limited, to acetylenyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl, 3-butynyl, 2-pentynyl, 1-butynyl and the like. “Lower alkynyl” as used herein, is a subset of alkyl and refers to a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and “higher alkynyl” has the corresponding meaning as described above in connection with “higher alkyl”.

“Alkoxy” refers to an alkyl radical as described above which also bears an oxygen substituent which is capable of covalent attachment to another hydrocarbon radical (such as, for example, methoxy, ethoxy and t-butoxy).

“Alkylthio” as used herein refers to an alkyl group, as defined herein, appended to the parent molecular moiety through a thio moiety, as defined herein. Representative examples of alkylthio include, but are not limited, methylthio, ethylthio, tert-butylthio, hexylthio, and the like.

“Aryl” or “aromatic ring moiety” refers to an aromatic substituent which may be a single ring or multiple rings which are fused together, linked covalently or linked to a common group such as an ethylene or methylene moiety. The aromatic rings may each contain heteroatoms and hence “aryl” encompasses “heteroaryl” as used herein. Representative examples of aryl include, azulenyl, indanyl, indenyl, naphthyl, phenyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, biphenyl, diphenylmethyl, 2,2-diphenyl-1-ethyl, thienyl, pyridyl and quinoxalyl. “Aryl” means substituted or unsubstituted aryl unless otherwise indicated and hence the aryl moieties may be optionally substituted with halogen atoms, or other groups such as nitro, carboxyl, alkoxy, phenoxy and the like. Additionally, the aryl radicals may be attached to other moieties at any position on the aryl radical which would otherwise be occupied by a hydrogen atom (such as, for example, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl and 4-pyridyl).

“Heteroaryl” means a cyclic, aromatic hydrocarbon in which one or more carbon atoms have been replaced with heteroatoms. If the heteroaryl group contains more than one heteroatom, the heteroatoms may be the same or different. Examples of heteroaryl groups include pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, imidazolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyranyl, isobenzofuranyl, chromenyl, xanthenyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolizinyl, triazolyl, pyridazinyl, indazolyl, purinyl, quinolizinyl, isoquinolyl, quinolyl, phthalazinyl, naphthyridinyl, quinoxalinyl, isothiazolyl, and benzo[b]thienyl. Preferred heteroaryl groups are five and six membered rings and contain from one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, N, and S. The heteroaryl group, including each heteroatom, can be unsubstituted or substituted with from 1 to 4 substituents, as chemically feasible. For example, the heteroatom S may be substituted with one or two oxo groups, which may be shown as ═O.

“Agriculturally acceptable salt” means a salt the cation of which is known and accepted in the art for the formation of salts for agricultural or horticultural use. Preferably the salts are water-soluble.

“Cyano” as used herein refers to a —CN group.

“Halo” or “halogen,” as used herein, refers to —Cl, —Br, —I or —F.

“Haloalkyl,” as used herein, refers to at least one halogen, as defined herein, appended to the parent molecular moiety through an alkyl group, as defined herein. Representative examples of haloalkyl include, but are not limited to, chloromethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, 2-chloro-3-fluoropentyl, and the like.

“Hydroxy,” as used herein, refers to an —OH group.

“Nitro,” as used herein, refers to a —NO₂ group.

“Oxy,” as used herein, refers to a —O— moiety.

“Thio,” as used herein, refers to a —S— moiety.

The disclosures of all US patent references cited herein are to be incorporated herein in their entirety as if fully set forth.

2. Compounds. The compounds of this invention are represented by formula I:

wherein:

R=H; alkyl; alkoxyalkyl; haloalkyl; aryl optionally substituted with halogen, alkyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro; or heteroaryl optionally substituted with halogen, alkyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro. More preferably, R is H; alkyl; aryl optionally substituted 1, 2, 3, or 4 times with halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, cyano; or heteroaryl (e.g., pyridyl, thienyl, benzthienyl, or furyl) optionally substituted 1, 2, 3, or 4 times with halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, cyano. Most preferably, R is H; phenyl, or thienyl optionally substituted (e.g., substituted 1, 2, 3 or 4 times) with halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, or haloalkoxy.

Ar=aryl, preferably phenyl optionally substituted with halogen, alkyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro; heteroaryl, especially 2-, 3- or 4-pyridyl optionally substituted (e.g., substituted 1, 2, 3 or 4 times) with halogen, alkyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro; 2-thiazolyl, 5-thiazolyl, 5-(1,2,3-thiadiazolyl), or 2-pyrimidinyl optionally substituted (e.g., substituted 1, 2, 3 or 4 times) with halogen, alkyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkyl, cyano, nitro. More preferably, Ar=heteroaryl, especially 2- or 3-pyridyl, 2-thiazolyl, 5-thiazolyl, or 5-(1,2,3-thiadiazolyl), unsubstituted or optionally substituted as described above. Most preferably, Ar is 2- or 3-pyridyl or 2-thiazolyl, unsubstituted or optionally substituted as described above.

Ar₁=aryl, preferably a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring comprised of 2-6 C-atoms, 0-3 N-atoms, 0-1 O-atom, and 0-1 S-atom, especially phenyl, pyridyl, thienyl, and furyl. Preferably, Ar₁=phenyl or heteroaryl (e.g., furyl, thienyl, or pyridyl). Most preferably, Ar₁ is phenyl, 2- or 3-thienyl.

X₁, X₂, and X₃ taken individually from H, halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, cyano, nitro; aryl or aryloxy or aryloxyalkyl, optionally substituted (e.g., substituted 1, 2, 3 or 4 times) with halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkoxy, cyano, or nitro,

or X₁ and X₂ or X₂ and X₃ as an adjacent pair together form the group —Y-W-Z-, where: Y and Z are independently oxygen, sulphur, sulphonyl, carbonyl, or CR₁R₂; W is —(CR₃R₄)_(p)—(CR₅R₆)_(q)— or sulfonyl; R₁ and R₂ are independently hydrogen, halogen, or alkyl; R₃ and R₄ are independently hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl or together form an oxo group; R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl; p is 1 or 2; and q is 0 or 1;

More preferably, X₁, X₂, and X₃ are each taken individually from H, halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy; aryl or aryloxy or aryloxyalkyl, optionally substituted (e.g., substituted 1, 2, 3 or 4 times) with halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, or cyano. Most preferably, X₁, X₂, and X₃ are each taken individually from H, halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, or aryloxy.

R′ is C1-C4 alkylene optionally substituted (e.g., substituted 1, 2, 3 or 4 times) with alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, or cyano. More preferably, R′ is C1-C2 unsubstituted alkylene; and

n is 0 or 1.

Ar is preferably not phenyl, e.g., is preferably heteroaryl such as 3-pyridyl (substituted or unsubstituted as described above). Ar₁ is preferably phenyl (substituted or unsubstituted as described above) and is preferably not heteroaryl. Preferably at least one of X₁, X₂, and X₃ is not H. In some embodiments R is preferably H; in other embodiments R is preferably not H. In some embodiments n is preferably 0; in other embodiments n is preferably not 0.

In one particular embodiment, compounds of the invention are subject to the proviso that R is not H when Ar is 3-pyridyl, n is 0, Ar₁ is phenyl, and X₁, X₂, and X₃ are all H.

In another particular embodiment, compounds of the invention are subject to the proviso that Ar is not 3-pyridyl when R is H, n is 0, Ar₁ is phenyl, and X₁, X₂, and X₃ are all H.

In still another particular embodiment, compounds of the invention are subject to the proviso that Ar₁ is not phenyl when R is H, Ar is 3-pyridyl, n is 0, and X₁, X₂, and X₃ are all H.

In still another particular embodiment, compounds of the invention are subject to the proviso that at least one of X₁, X₂, and X₃ is not H when R is H, Ar is 3-pyridyl, n is 0, Ar₁ is phenyl.

In some embodiments the Compound of Formula I is subject to the proviso that at least one compound, or all compounds, of Table 1 below are excluded therefrom:

TABLE 1 Compound Reference

1, 2

1, 2

1, 2

1, 2

1, 2

1, 2, 3

1, 2, 3

3

3

3

3 1. M Shi et al., 2002 Helvetica Chimica Acta, 85, 1051-7. 2. M. Shi et al., 2003 Molecules, 7, 721-33. 3. P. Perlmutter et al., 1996 Tetrahedron Lett., 37, 1715-8.

Methods of making. Compositions of generic structure I wherein R=H may be prepared by the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of acrylate ester II with aldehyde III:

The reaction is known and can be carried out in accordance with known techniques, or variations thereof that will be apparent to persons skilled in the art (See, e.g., D. Basavaiah et al., “The Baylis-Hillman Reaction: A Novel Carbon-Carbon Bond Forming Reaction, Tetrahedron 52, 8001-8062 (1996); see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,127). In general the reaction is carried out in the presence of a tertiary amine base such as DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane), trimethylamine, or DMAP (4-dimethylaminopyridine) with or without solvent or combinations thereof such as water, 1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, formamide, alcohol.

Esters II are obtained from acylation of IV with acryloyl chloride V:

Acylation of IV with acryloyl chloride V is optimally conducted in an inert solvent such as dichloromethane in the presence of a tertiary amine such as diisopropylethylamine at low temperature (−78° C.).

Compositions of generic structure I wherein R≠H may be prepared by one of several methods. For compositions in which R=aryl or heteroaryl, the Baylis-Hillman product I may be reacted with an aryl halide, preferably an aryl(heteroaryl) iodide (Ar₂I) or bromide (Ar₂Br) VI, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst, preferably a palladium catalyst such as palladium(II) diacetate, to produce I (R=Ar₂):

Such reactions are sometimes referred to as the Heck reaction, which may be carried out in accordance with known techniques or variations thereof which will be apparent to those skilled in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,573,389; 6,489,258; and 5,162,532). Both the Z- and the E-isomers are generally obtained. Pure isomers are obtained after chromatographic (TLC or HPLC) separation. The preferred isomer is the Z-isomer:

Alternatively, compounds I in which R≠H may be prepared from an alkyne VII in a two-step reaction by first reduction with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL) followed by addition to an aryl aldehyde, ArCHO:

The preferred Z-isomer is produced stereoselectively in this reaction.

Exemplary compounds. Examples of compounds of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the following:

Compound Number Structure Chemical Name 1

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate; 2

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate; 3

4-Chlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate; 4

3,4-Dichlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate; 5

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- 3-pyridylmethyl)-3-phenylpropenoate; 6

4-Chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α- (α-hydroxy-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-phenylpropenoate; 7

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- 3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(4-chloro)phenylpropenoate; 8

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- 3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(3-thienyl)propenoate; 9

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- 3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(4- methoxy)phenylpropenoate; 10

1-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-propyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 11

4-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 12

2-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 13

4-Chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 14

3-Chlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 15

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-oxazolepropanoate 16

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-5-thiazolepropanoate 17

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-5-(1,2,3-thiadiazole)propanoate 18

2,6-Dichlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 19

4-Chlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 20

5-Chloro-2-thienylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 21

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- 3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(2-chloro)phenylpropenoate 22

5-(3-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-furanmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 23

4-(4-Chlorophenoxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 24

4-(3-Chlorophenoxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 25

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- 3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(3-benzthienyl)propenoate 26

2,6-Dichlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 27

3,5-Dimethyl-4-methoxy-2-pyridinemethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 28

4-Phenoxyphenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 29

5,6-Dichloro-3-pyridinemethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 30

4-Phenoxyphenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 31

2-Chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 32

2-Chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 33

3-Chloro-4-methylphenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 34

2-Fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 35

3-Trifluoromethylphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene- 3-pyridinepropanoate 36

3-Chlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 37

4-Chlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 38

4-Phenoxyphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 39

3-Chlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 40

2-Chlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 41

2,6-Dichlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 42

2,3-Dichlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 43

3,4-Dichlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 44

3-Trifluoromethylphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene- 2-thiazolepropanoate 45

2,3-Dichlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 46

2,4-Dichlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 47

3,4-Dichlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 48

3-Trifluoromethylphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene- 3-pyridinepropanoate 49

4-Methoxyphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyradinepropanoate 50

3-(5-Chloro-2-pyridyloxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 51

4-(5-Trifluoromethyl-2-pyridyloxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 52

3-(5-Trifluoromethyl-2-pyridyloxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 53

4-(2-Chloro-6-fluoro-4- trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl-methyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 54

3-(2-Chloro-6-fluoro-4- trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl-methyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 55

4-(5-Chloro-2-pyridyloxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 56

4-(2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl- methyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 57

3-(2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl- methyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 58

3-(5-Chloro-2-pyridyloxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2-pyridinepropanoate 59

4-(5-Trifluoromethyl-2-pyridyloxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2-pyridinepropanoate 60

3-(5-Trifluoromethyl-2-pyridyloxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2-pyridinepropanoate 61

4-(2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl- methyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- pyridinepropanoate 62

3-(2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl- methyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- pyridinepropanoate 63

4-(2-Chloro-6-fluoro-4- trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl-methyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-pyridinepropanoate 64

3-(2-Chloro-6-fluoro-4- trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl-methyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-pyridinepropanoate 65

3-(5-Chloro-2-pyridyloxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 66

4-(5-Trifluoromethyl-2-pyridyloxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thlazolepropanoate 67

3-(5-Trifluoromethyl-2-pyridyloxy)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 68

4-(2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl- methyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 69

3-(2,6-Dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl- methyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 70

4-(2-Chloro-6-fluoro-4- trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl-methyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 71

3-(2-Chloro-6-fluoro-4- trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl-methyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 72

4-Chloro-3,5-dimethylphenyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 73

4-Bromo-2,6-dimethylphenyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 74

Benzoylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 75

2-Acetylphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 76

3-Acetylphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 77

4-Benzoylphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 78

3-Benzoylphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 79

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(3-chloro)phenylpropenaote 80

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(3-fluoro)phenylpropenaote 81

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(4-fluoro)phenylpropenaote 82

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(2-fluoro)phenylpropenaote 83

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(3,4- dichloro)phenylpropenaote 84

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(3,4- difluoro)phenylpropenaote 85

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(3,5- dichloro)phenylpropenaote 86

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(3,5- difluoro)phenylpropenaote 87

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(2,5- difluoro)phenylpropenaote 88

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(2,5- dichloro)phenylpropenaote 89

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(2-thienyl)propenaote 90

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(5-chloro-2- thienyl)propenaote 91

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(5-methyl-2- thienyl)propenaote 92

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(3-methyl-2- thienyl)propenaote 93

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(4-methyl-3- thienyl)propenaote 94

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(2-chloro-3- thienyl)propenaote 95

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy- α-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-(5-methyl-3- thienyl)propenaote 96

1-(3-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-1-propyl β-hydroxy- α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 97

1-Phenyl-2-propyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 98

1-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene- 3-pyridinepropanoate 99

1-(2-Phenylphenyl)ethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene- 3-pyridinepropanoate 100

1-(3-Thienyl)ethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 101

1-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene- 2-thiazolepropanoate 102

1-(3-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-1-propyl β-hydroxy- α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 103

1-(3-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-1-propyl β-hydroxy- α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 104

1-(3-Trifluoromethylphenyl)ethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 105

3-(Methyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene- 2-thiazolepropanoate 106

3-(Trifluoromethoxy)-phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 107

3-(Trifluoromethoxy)-phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 108

4-(Trifluoromethoxy)-phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 109

4-(Trifluoromethoxy)-phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 110

4-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 111

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 112

4-Chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-pyridinepropanoate 113

4-Chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 114

3,4-Dichlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate 115

4-Chlorophenylethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 116

3-Chlorophenylethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 117

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-6-trifluoromethyl-3- pyridinepropanoate 118

2-Chlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 119

4-Chlorophenylethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 120

3-Chlorophenylethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 121

2-Chlorophenylethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 122

2,3,4,5,6-Pentafluorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 123

2,3,4,5-Tetrafluorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 124

3,5-(Bistrifluoromethyl)-phenylmethyl β-hydroxy- α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 125

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-5-oxazolepropanoate 126

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-4-thiazolepropanoate 127

3,4-Difluorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 128

3-Chloro-4-methylphenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 129

3-Chloro-2-fluoro-5- (trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 130

2-Fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 131

2-Fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 132

3-Fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 133

4-Fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 134

2-Chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 135

4-Methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 136

4-Methoxy-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β- hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 137

3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-chloro-3-pyridinepropanoate 138

2,6-Dichloro-4-pyridinemethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 139

2,5-Dichlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 140

3,5-Dichlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 141

2,3-Dichlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 142

5-Methylisoxazole-3-methyl β-hydroxy-α- methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate 143

2-Thienylethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 144

3-Cyanophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 145

2-Chlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 146

2,6-Dichlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 147

4-Methylphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 148

4-Methylphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 149

2,4-Dichlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 150

4-Methoxyphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 151

4-Phenoxyphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 152

4-Phenoxyphenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 153

3,4-Difluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 154

3,4-Difluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 155

2,4-Difluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 156

2,4-Difluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 157

4-Fluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 158

4-Fluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 159

4-Chloro-3-fluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene- 3-pyridinepropanoate 160

4-Chloro-3-fluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene- 2-thiazolepropanoate 161

4-Chloro-2-fluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene- 3-pyridinepropanoate 162

4-Chloro-2-fluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene- 2-thiazolepropanoate 163

2,6-Difluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 164

2,6-Difluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 165

2,5-Difluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 166

2,5-Difluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate 167

2,3-Difluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3- pyridinepropanoate 168

2,3-Difluorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2- thiazolepropanoate

Salts. The compounds described herein and, optionally, all their isomers may be obtained in the form of their salts. Because some of the compounds I have a basic center they can, for example, form acid addition salts. Said acid addition salts are, for example, formed with mineral acids, typically sulfuric acid, a phosphoric acid or a hydrogen halide, with organic carboxylic acids, typically acetic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid or phthalic acid, with hydroxycarboxylic acids, typically ascorbic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid or citric acid, or with benzoic acid, or with organic sulfonic acids, typically methanesulfonic acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid. Together with at least one acidic group, the compounds of formula I can also form salts with bases. Suitable salts with bases are, for example, metal salts, typically alkali metal salts; or alkaline earth metal salts, e.g. sodium salts, potassium salts or magnesium salts, or salts with ammonia or an organic amine, e.g. morpholine, piperidine, pyrrolidine, a mono-, di- or trialkylamine, typically ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine or dimethylpropylamine, or a mono-, di- or trihydroxyalkylamine, typically mono-, di- or triethanolamine. Where appropriate, the formation of corresponding internal salts is also possible. Within the scope of this invention, agrochemical or pharmaceutically acceptable salts are preferred.

3. Agrochemical compositions and use. Active compounds of the present invention can be used to prepare agrochemical compositions and used to control fungi in like manner as other antifungal compounds. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,330; see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,616,952; 6,569,875; 6,541,500, and 6,506,794.

Active compounds described herein can be used for protecting plants against diseases that are caused by fungi. For the purposes herein, oomycetes shall be considered fungi. The active compounds can be used in the agricultural sector and related fields as active ingredients for controlling plant pests. The active compounds can be used to inhibit or destroy the pests that occur on plants or parts of plants (fruit, blossoms, leaves, stems, tubers, roots) of different crops of useful plants, optionally while at the same time protecting also those parts of the plants that grow later e.g. from phytopathogenic micro-organisms.

Active compounds may be used as dressing agents for the treatment of plant propagation material, in particular of seeds (fruit, tubers, grains) and plant cuttings (e.g. rice), for the protection against fungal infections as well as against phytopathogenic fungi occurring in the soil.

The active compounds may be used, for example, against the phytopathogenic fungi of the following classes: Fungi imperfecti (e.g. Botrytis, Pyricularia, Heiminthosporium, Fusarium, Septoria, Cercospora and Alternaria) and Basidiomycetes (e.g. Rhizoctonia, Hemileia, Puccinia). Additionally, they may also be used against the Ascomycetes classes (e.g. Venturia and Erysiphe, Podosphaera, Monilinia, Uncinula) and of the Oomycetes classes (e.g. Phytophthora, Pythium, Plasmopara).

Target crops to be protected with active compounds and compositions of the invention typically comprise the following species of plants: cereal (wheat, barley, rye, oat, rice, maize, sorghum and related species); beet (sugar beet and fodder beet); pomes, drupes and soft fruit (apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries); leguminous plants (beans, lentils, peas, soybeans); oil plants (rape, mustard, poppy, olives, sunflowers, coconut, castor oil plants, cocoa beans, groundnuts); cucumber plants (pumpkins, cucumbers, melons); fiber plants (cotton, flax, hemp, jute); citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, grapefruit, mandarins); vegetables (spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, paprika); lauraceae (avocado, cinnamon, camphor) or plants such as tobacco, nuts, coffee, eggplants, sugar cane, tea, pepper, vines including grape-bearing vines, hops, bananas, turf and natural rubber plants, as well as ornamentals (flowers, shrubs, broad-leafed trees and evergreens, such as conifers). This list does not represent any limitation.

The active compounds can be used in the form of compositions and can be applied to the crop area or plant to be treated, simultaneously or in succession with further compounds. These further compounds can be e.g. fertilizers or micronutrient donors or other preparations which influence the growth of plants. They can also be selective herbicides as well as insecticides, fungicides, bactericides, nematicides, molluscicides, plant growth regulators, plant activators or mixtures of several of these preparations, if desired together with further carriers, surfactants or application promoting adjuvants customarily employed in the art of formulation.

The active compounds can be mixed with other fungicides, resulting in some cases in unexpected synergistic activities.

Mixing components which are particularly preferred are azoles such as azaconazole, bitertanol, propiconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, cyproconazole, epoxiconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, imazalil, imibenconazole, ipconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, fenbuconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, perfurazoate, penconazole, bromuconazole, pyrifenox, prochloraz, triadimefon, triadimenol, triflumizole or triticonazole; pyrimidinyl carbinoles such as ancymidol, fenarimol or nuarimol; 2-amino-pyrimidine such as bupirimate, dimethirimol or ethirimol; morpholines such as dodemorph, fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, spiroxamin or tridemorph; anilinopyrimidines such as cyprodinil, pyrimethanil or mepanipyrim; pyrroles such as fenpiclonil or fludioxonil; phenylamides such as benalaxyl, furalaxyl, metalaxyl, R-metalaxyl, ofurace or oxadixyl; benzimidazoles such as benomyl, carbendazim, debacarb, fuberidazole or thiabendazole; dicarboximides such as chlozolinate, dichlozoline, iprodine, myclozoline, procymidone or vinclozolin; carboxamides such as carboxin, fenfuram, flutolanil, mepronil, oxycarboxin or thifluzamide; guanidines such as guazatine, dodine or iminoctadine; strobilurines such as azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, SSF-129, methyl 2[(2-trifluoromethyl)-pyrid-6-yloxymethyl]-3-methoxy-acrylate or 2-[{.alpha.[(.alpha.-methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-benzyl)imino]-oxy}-o-tolyl]-glyoxylic acid-methylester-O-methyloxime (trifloxystrobin); dithiocarbamates such as ferbam, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, propineb, thiram, zineb or ziram; N-halomethylthio-dicarboximides such as captafol, captan, dichlofluanid, fluoromide, folpet or tolyfluanid; copper compounds such as Bordeaux mixture, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, copper sulfate, cuprous oxide, mancopper or oxine-copper; nitrophenol derivatives such as dinocap or nitrothal-isopropyl; organo phosphorous derivatives such as edifenphos, iprobenphos, isoprothiolane, phosdiphen, pyrazophos or toclofos-methyl; and other compounds of diverse structures such as acibenzolar-S-methyl, harpin, anilazine, blasticidin-S, chinomethionat, chloroneb, chlorothalonil, cymoxanil, dichione, diclomezine, dicloran, diethofencarb, dimethomorph, dithianon, etridiazole, famoxadone, fenamidone, fentin, ferimzone, fluazinam, flusulfamide, fenhexamid, fosetyl-aluminium, hymexazol, kasugamycin, methasulfocarb, pencycuron, phthalide, polyoxins, probenazole, propamocarb, pyroquilon, quinoxyfen, quintozene, sulfur, triazoxide, tricyclazole, triforine, validamycin, (S)-5-methyl-2-methylthio-5-phenyl-3-phenylamino-3,5-di-hydroimidazol-4-one (RPA 407213), 3,5-dichloro-N-(3-chloro-1-ethyl-1-methyl-2-oxopropyl)-4-methylbenzamide (RH-7281), N-allyl-4,5-dimethyl-2-trimethylsilylthiophene-3-carboxamide (MON 65500), 4-chloro-4-cyano-N,N-dimethyl-5-p-tolylimidazole-1-sulfon-amide (IKF-916), N-(1-cyano-1,2-dimethylpropyl)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-propionamide (AC 382042) or iprovalicarb (SZX 722).

Suitable carriers and adjuvants can be solid or liquid and are substances useful in formulation technology, e.g. natural or regenerated mineral substances, solvents, dispersants, wetting agents, tackifiers, thickeners, binders or fertilizers.

A preferred method of applying an active compound of the invention, or an agrochemical composition which contains at least one of said compounds, is foliar application. The frequency of application and the rate of application will depend on the risk of infestation by the corresponding pathogen. However, the active compounds can also penetrate the plant through the roots via the soil (systemic action) by drenching the locus of the plant with a liquid formulation, or by applying the compounds in solid form to the soil, e.g. in granular form (soil application). In crops of water such as rice, such granulates can be applied to the flooded rice field. The active compounds may also be applied to seeds (coating) by impregnating the seeds or tubers either with a liquid formulation of the fungicide or coating them with a solid formulation.

The term locus as used herein is intended to embrace the fields on which the treated crop plants are growing, or where the seeds of cultivated plants are sown, or the place where the seed will be placed into the soil. The term seed is intended to embrace plant propagating material such as cuttings, seedlings, seeds, and germinated or soaked seeds.

The active compounds are used in unmodified form or, preferably, together with the adjuvants conventionally employed in the art of formulation. To this end they are conveniently formulated in known manner to emulsifiable concentrates, coatable pastes, directly sprayable or dilutable solutions, dilute emulsions, wettable powders, soluble powders, dusts, granulates, and also encapsulations e.g. in polymeric substances. As with the type of the compositions, the methods of application, such as spraying, atomizing, dusting, scattering, coating or pouring, are chosen in accordance with the intended objectives and the prevailing circumstances.

Advantageous rates of application are normally from 5 g to 2 kg of active ingredient (a.i.) per hectare (ha), preferably from 10 g to 1 kg a.i./ha, most preferably from 20 g to 600 g a.i./ha. When used as seed drenching agent, convenient dosages are from 10 mg to 1 g of active substance per kg of seeds.

The formulation, i.e. the compositions containing the compound of formula I and, if desired, a solid or liquid adjuvant, are prepared in known manner, typically by intimately mixing and/or grinding the compound with extenders, e.g. solvents, solid carriers and, optionally, surface active compounds (surfactants).

Suitable carriers and adjuvants may be solid or liquid and correspond to the substances ordinarily employed in formulation technology, such as, e.g. natural or regenerated mineral substances, solvents, dispersants, wetting agents, tackifiers, thickeners binding agents or fertilizers. Such carriers are for example described in WO 97/33890.

Further surfactants customarily employed in the art of formulation are known to the expert or can be found in the relevant literature.

The agrochemical formulations will usually contain from 0.1 to 99% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 95% by weight, of the compound of formula I, 99.9 to 1% by weight, preferably 99.8 to 5% by weight, of a solid or liquid adjuvant, and from 0 to 25% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 25% by weight, of a surfactant.

Whereas it is preferred to formulate commercial products as concentrates, the end user will normally use dilute formulations.

The compositions may also contain further adjuvants such as stabilizers, antifoams, viscosity regulators, binders or tackifiers as well as fertilizers, micronutrient donors or other formulations for obtaining special effects.

4. Technical materials. The compounds and combinations of the present invention may also be used in the area of controlling fungal infection (particularly by mold and mildew) of technical materials, including protecting technical material against attack of fungi and reducing or eradicating fungal infection of technical materials after such infection has occurred. Technical materials include but are not limited to organic and inorganic materials wood, paper, leather, natural and synthetic fibers, composites thereof such as particle board, plywood, wall-board and the like, woven and non-woven fabrics, construction surfaces and materials, cooling and heating system surfaces and materials, ventilation and air conditioning system surfaces and materials, and the like. The compounds and combinations according the present invention can be applied to such materials or surfaces in an amount effective to inhibit or prevent disadvantageous effects such as decay, discoloration or mold in like manner as described above. Structures and dwellings constructed using or incorporating technical materials in which such compounds or combinations have been applied are likewise protected against attack by fungi.

5. Pharmaceutical uses. In addition to the foregoing, active compounds of the present invention can be used in the treatment of fungal infections of human and animal subjects (including but not limited to horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, cats, etc.) for medical and veterinary purposes. Examples of such infections include but are not limited to ailments such as Onychomycosis, sporotichosis, hoof rot, jungle rot, pseudallecheria boydii, scopulariopsis or athletes foot, sometimes generally referred to as “white-line” disease, as well as fungal infections in immunocomprised patients such as AIDS patients and transplant patients. Thus, fungal infections may be of skin or of keratinaceous material such as hair, hooves, or nails, as well as systemic infections such as those caused by Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus spp., such as as in pulmonary aspergillosis and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Active compounds as described herein may be combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and administered or applied to such subjects or infections (e.g. topically, parenterally) in an amount effective to treat the infection in accordance with known techniques, as (for example) described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,680,073; 6,673,842; 6,664,292; 6,613,738; 6,423,519; 6,413,444; 6,403,063; and 60,42,845; the disclosures of which applicants specifically intend be incoroporated by reference herein in their entirety.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable” is employed herein to refer to those compounds, materials, compositions, and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of human beings and animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.

“Pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier” as used herein means a pharmaceutically-acceptable material, composition or vehicle, such as a liquid or solid filler, diluent, excipient, solvent or encapsulating material, involved in carrying or transporting the subject peptidomimetic agent from one organ, or portion of the body, to another organ, or portion of the body. Each carrier must be “acceptable” in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not injurious to the patient. Some examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers include: (1) sugars, such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; (2) starches, such as corn starch and potato starch; (3) cellulose, and its derivatives, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; (4) powdered tragacanth; (5) malt; (6) gelatin; (7) talc; (8) excipients, such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; (9) oils, such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and soybean oil; (10) glycols, such as propylene glycol; (11) polyols, such as glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol and polyethylene glycol; (12) esters, such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; (13) agar; (14) buffering agents, such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; (15) alginic acid; (16) pyrogen-free water; (17) isotonic saline; (18) Ringer's solution; (19) ethyl alcohol; (20) phosphate buffer solutions; and (21) other non-toxic compatible substances employed in pharmaceutical formulations.

Formulations of the present invention include those suitable for oral, nasal, topical (including buccal and sublingual), rectal, vaginal and/or parenteral administration. The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by any methods well known in the art of pharmacy. The amount of active ingredient which can be combined with a carrier material to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host being treated, the particular mode of administration. The amount of active ingredient which can be combined with a carrier material to produce a single dosage form will generally be that amount of the active ingredient which produces a therapeutic effect. Generally, out of one hundred percent, this amount will range from about 1 percent to about ninety-nine percent of active ingredient, preferably from about 5 percent to about 70 percent, most preferably from about 10 percent to about 30 percent.

Methods of preparing these formulations or compositions include the step of bringing into association a compound of the present invention with the carrier and, optionally, one or more accessory ingredients. In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association a peptide or peptidomimetic of the present invention with liquid carriers, or finely divided solid carriers, or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

The ointments, pastes, creams and gels may contain, in addition to the active ingredient, excipients, such as animal and vegetable fats, oils, waxes, paraffins, starch, tragacanth, cellulose derivatives, polyethylene glycols, silicones, bentonites, silicic acid, talc and zinc oxide, or mixtures thereof.

Powders and sprays can contain, in addition to a compound of this invention, excipients such as lactose, talc, silicic acid, aluminum hydroxide, calcium silicates and polyamide powder, or mixtures of these substances. Sprays can additionally contain customary propellants, such as chlorofluorohydrocarbons and volatile unsubstituted hydrocarbons, such as butane and propane.

Formulations suitable for oral administration may be presented in discrete units, such as capsules, cachets, lozenges, or tablets, each containing a predetermined amount of the active compound; as a powder or granules; as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion. Such formulations may be prepared by any suitable method of pharmacy which includes the step of bringing into association the active compound and a suitable carrier (which may contain one or more accessory ingredients as noted above). In general, the formulations of the invention are prepared by uniformly and intimately admixing the active compound with a liquid or finely divided solid carrier, or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the resulting mixture. For example, a tablet may be prepared by compressing or molding a powder or granules containing the active compound, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing, in a suitable machine, the compound in a free-flowing form, such as a powder or granules optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, and/or surface active/dispersing agent(s). Molded tablets may be made by molding, in a suitable machine, the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid binder.

Pharmaceutical compositions of this invention suitable for parenteral administration comprise one or more active compounds of the invention in combination with one or more pharmaceutically-acceptable sterile isotonic aqueous or nonaqueous solutions, dispersions, suspensions or emulsions, or sterile powders which may be reconstituted into sterile injectable solutions or dispersions just prior to use, which may contain antioxidants, buffers, bacteriostats, solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient or suspending or thickening agents.

Examples of suitable aqueous and nonaqueous carriers which may be employed in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include water, ethanol, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils, such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters, such as ethyl oleate. Proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of coating materials, such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions, and by the use of surfactants. These compositions may also contain adjuvants such as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents and dispersing agents. Prevention of the action of microorganisms may be ensured by the inclusion of various antibacterial and other antifungal agents, for example, paraben, chlorobutanol, phenol sorbic acid, and the like. It may also be desirable to include isotonic agents, such as sugars, sodium chloride, and the like into the compositions. In addition, prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form may be brought about by the inclusion of agents which delay absorption such as aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

When the compounds of the present invention are administered as pharmaceuticals, to humans and animals, they can be given per se or as a pharmaceutical composition containing, for example, 0.1 to 99.5% (more preferably, 0.5 to 90%) of active ingredient in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The preparations of the present invention may be given by any suitable means of administration including orally, parenterally, topically, transdermally, rectally, etc. They are of course given by forms suitable for each administration route. For example, they are administered in tablets or capsule form, by injection, inhalation, eye lotion, ointment, suppository, etc. administration by injection, infusion or inhalation; topical by lotion or ointment; and rectal by suppositories. Topical or parenteral administration is preferred.

“Parenteral administration” and “administered parenterally” as used herein means modes of administration other than enteral and topical administration, usually by injection, and includes, without limitation, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarterial, intrathecal, intracapsular, intraorbital, intracardiac, intradermal, intraperitoneal, transtracheal, subcutaneous, subcuticular, intraarticulare, subcapsular, subarachnoid, intraspinal and intrasternal injection and infusion.

Actual dosage levels of the active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active ingredient which is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response, e.g., antimycotic activity, for a particular patient, composition, and mode of administration, without being toxic to the patient. The selected dosage level will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the particular active compound employed, the route of administration, the time of administration, the rate of excretion of the particular active compound being employed, the duration of the treatment, other drugs, compounds and/or materials used in combination with the particular inhibitor employed, the age, sex, weight, condition, general health and prior medical history of the patient being treated, and like factors well known in the medical arts. A physician or veterinarian having ordinary skill in the art can readily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition required. For example, the physician or veterinarian could start doses of the compounds of the invention employed in the pharmaceutical composition at levels lower than that required in order to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and gradually increase the dosage until the desired effect is achieved. As a general proposition, a dosage from about 0.01 or 0.1 to about 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg will have therapeutic efficacy, with all weights being calculated based upon the weight of the active compound, including the cases where a salt is employed.

The present invention is explained in greater detail in the following non-limiting Examples.

EXAMPLE 1 3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate (Compound 1)

A mixture of 62 mg (0.27 mmol) of 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl acrylate, 29 mg (0.27 mmol) of pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde, and 30 mg (0.27 mmol) of 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2]octane (DABCO) was thoroughly shaken on a Vortex mixer, and then stored at 0° C. overnight. The product was purified by preparative HPLC (prep HPLC) using a Gilson 210 HPLC/fraction handler to give 47 mg (0.14 mmol; 52% yield) of the desired Baylis-Hillman adduct, 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 5.18 (s, 2H), 5.63 (1H), 5.98 (1H), 6.45 (1H), 7.70 (d of t, 1H), 8.49 (d of d, 1H), and 8.56 ppm (d, 1H). MS m/z: 338.1 (M+H).

EXAMPLES 2-43 Preparation of Additional Pyridinepropanoates

Compounds 11, 22-24, 26-28, 31, 33, 34, 50-57, 96-99, 102, 104, 106, 108, 111, 113-116, and 143 above are prepared in essentially the same manner as Compound 1 as described in Example 1 above. Compounds 58-64, and 112 are prepared in an analogous manner except that pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde is employed in the Baylis-Hillman reaction. Compound 117 was also prepared in an analogous manner using 6-trifluoromethylpyridine-3-carboxaldehyde, and compound 137 was prepared using 2-chloropyridine-3-carboxaldehyde.

EXAMPLE 44 3,4-Dichlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate (Compound 4)

A mixture of 59 mg (0.26 mmol) of 3,4-dichlorophenylmethyl acrylate, 27 mg (0.24 mmol) of 2-thiazolecarboxaldehyde, and 31 mg (0.28 mmol) of DABCO was thoroughly shaken on a Vortex mixer, and then stored at 0° C. overnight. The product was purified by prep HPLC to give 34 mg (0.10 mmol; 42% yield) of the desired Baylis-Hillman adduct, 3,4-dichlorophenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-2-thiazolepropanoate. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 5.12 (2H), 5.76 (1H), 6.07 (1H), 6.49 (1H), 7.12 (d of d, 1H), 7.71 ppm (d, 1H) MS m/z: 344.0 (M+H).

EXAMPLES 45-98 Preparation of Additional Thiazolepropanoates and Related Heterocyclylpropanoates

Compounds 2-3, 10, 12-14, 18, 20, 29, 30, 32, 65-71, 74, 100, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 110, 118-124, 127-136, 138-142, and 144 are prepared in essentially the same manner as Compound 4 as described in Example 44 above. The oxazolepropanoates 15 and 125 were prepared analogously by employing 2-oxazolecarboxaldehyde and 5-oxazolecarboxaldehyde in the Baylis-Hillman reaction, respectively. The thiazolepropanoates 16 and 126 were obtained using 5-thiazolecarboxaldehyde and 4-thiazolecarboxaldehyde, respectively. Thiadiazolepropanoate 17 was prepared by employing 1,2,3-thiadiazole-5-carboxaldehyde.

EXAMPLE 99 3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-phenylpropenoate (Compound 5)

A mixture of 100 mg (0.30 mmol) of 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate (Compound 1), 24 mg (0.11 mmol) of palladium(II) acetate, 62 mg (0.58 mmol) of sodium carbonate, 95 mg (0.29 mmol) of tetrabutylammonium bromide, and 62 μL (92 mg, 0.59 mmol) of bromobenzene in 2 mL of anhydrous dimethylformamide (DMF) was heated at 100° C. overnight. The reaction mixture was then cooled, diluted with diethyl ether and filtered through magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄). The filtrate was washed with saturated sodium chloride and dried (MgSO₄). Solvent was removed by rotoevaporation. The crude product was purified by preparative thin layer chromatography (prep TLC) to give 14 mg (0.03 mmol) of 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl Z-α-(α-hydroxy-3-pyridylmethyl)-3-phenylpropenoate. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 5.17 (d, 1H), 5.26 (d, 1H), 5.94 (d, 1H), 7.72 (1H), 8.50 (1H), and 8.58 ppm (1H). MS m/z: 414.1 (M+H). The E-isomer, separated during prepTLC purification, was also obtained (8 mg).

EXAMPLES 100-122 Preparation of Additional 3-Arylpropenoates

Compounds 6-9, 21, 25, and 79-95 are prepared in essentially the same manner as compound 5 described in Example 99 above, by using the appropriately substituted bromo- or iodoaromatic in the Heck reaction.

EXAMPLE 123 4-Chlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate (Compound 19)

A mixture of 37 mg (0.20 mmol) of 4-chlorophenyl acrylate, 22 mg (0.22 mmol) of pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde, and 22 mg (0.20 mmol) of DABCO was thoroughly shaken on a Vortex mixer. After 1 hr at room temperature, the mixture was diluted with dichloromethane. The DCM solution was washed with dilute aqueous acetic acid, and the DCM removed by rotoevaporation. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC to give 10 mg (0.035 mmol, 18% yield) of the desired Baylis-Hillman adduct, 4-chlorophenyl β-hydroxy-α-methylene-3-pyridinepropanoate. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 5.70 (1H), 6.14 (1H), 6.64 (1H), 7.76 (d of t, 1H), 8.55 (d of d, 1H), and 8.64 ppm (d, 1H). MS m/z: 290.0 (M+H).

EXAMPLES 124-168 Preparation of Additional Phenyl Esters

Phenyl esters 35-49, 72, 73, 75-78, and 145-168 are prepared in essentially the same manner as compound 19 in Example 123 above. Generally, short reaction times (0.1-2 hr) were employed to maximize yield of phenyl esters.

EXAMPLE 169 Biological Screening

Fungicidal activity for the compounds described in this invention was determined using a microtiter plate format. In primary screening, test compounds in 1 μL of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) are delivered to individual wells of a 96-well microtiter plate. Then 100 μL of minimal media consisting of 1.5% agar is delivered to each well and allowed to cool. Finally, inoculation is carried out by the addition of 10 μL of an aqueous suspension of fungal spores to the surface of the solid agar. The plates are covered and incubated in a controlled environment at 20° C. Fungicidal activity is determined by visual inspection and photometric analysis of fungal growth after 3-5 days, depending on the pathogen. Commercial standards (azoxystrobin, benomyl, captan, chlorothalonil, famoxadone, flusilazole, and propiconazole) are included in all assays. Test pathogens include Septoria tritici, Stagonospora nodorum, Phytophthora infestans, and Botrytis cinerea. Dose response data for compounds found to be fungicidal in primary screening are obtained by screening 3-fold serial dilutions of the test compound. Fungicidal activity, noted as IC₅₀ values in μM concentration, for certain of the compounds covered in this invention is included in the following Table 2. The coefficient of variation (“C.V.”; ratio of standard deviation to the mean) expressed in percentage is given in parentheses.

TABLE 2 IC₅₀ Values in μM Concentration and C.V. Values in % Compound Number B. cinerea P. infestans S. nodorum S. tritici 4 A B (d) C (b) B (b) 5 D D A (b) A (b) 19 D A (c) C (c) A (c) 24 D C C (c) A (d) 28 NT B (a) B A 30 C A (b) D B IC₅₀(μM): A = 0-5; B = 6-15; C = 16-25; D = +25 C.V. (%): (a) = 0-5; (b) = 6-15; (c) = 16-25; (d) = +25 NT = Not tested

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention, and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein. 

1. A compound of formula I:

wherein: R is aryl; Ar is heteroaryl; Ar₁ is a 5 or 6-membered aromatic or heteroaromatic ring; X₁, X₂, and X₃ taken individually from H, halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, cyano, nitro; aryl or aryloxy or aryloxyalkyl, optionally substituted with halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkyithio, haloalkoxy, cyano, nitro, or X₁ and X₂ or X₂ and X₃ as an adjacent pair together form the group —Y—W-Z-, where: Y and Z are independently oxygen, sulphur, sulphonyl, carbonyl, or CR₁R₂; W is —(CR₃R₄)_(p)—(CR₅R₆)_(q)— or sulfonyl; R₁ and R₂ are independently hydrogen, halogen, or alkyl; R₃ and R₄ are independently hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl or together form an oxo group; R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl; p is 1 or 2; and q is 0 or 1; R′ is C1-C4 alkylene optionally substituted with alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, or cyano; n is 0 or 1; or a salt thereof.
 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein R is phenyl or thienyl.
 3. The compound of claim 1, wherein said aryl is substituted aryl. 